Would-be Oakland bank robbers thwarted by employee who locked door

OAKLAND -- Would-be bank robbers were thwarted Wednesday morning when an employee of a North Oakland bank reportedly locked the door to the building.

The attempted bank robbery took place at 10:14 a.m. at the First Federal Savings & Loan on the 6000 block of College Avenue in the Rockridge neighborhood, police said.

Two masked men approached the front door to the bank and tried to walk inside, but an employee inside the bank was able to lock the door before they could enter.

The men then fled.

It was not immediately known if the men were armed. Descriptions of them were not available.

Police and Crime Stoppers of Oakland are offering as much as $3,000 in reward money for information leading to the men's arrest. Anyone with information can call 510-238-3641, an anonymous tip line at 510-637-0298 or Crime Stoppers of Oakland at 510-777-8572.